CN101553187B - Method and apparatus for obtaining data for dental components and physical dental models - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention discloses a method for obtaining data for manufacturing a physical dental model (60, 61, 62) of a dental component and at least a portion of a dental structure. The method comprises obtaining a first data record for manufacturing the dental component, the first data record containing information based on a portion of a digital dental model (50, 51, 52). Furthermore, the method comprises obtaining a second data record for manufacturing the physical dental model (60, 61, 62), the second data record containing information based on at least the portion of the digital dental model (50, 51, 52). Furthermore, a computer program product for performing the method and a system for manufacturing a dental component and a physical model are disclosed.

Description

Method and apparatus for obtaining data for dental components and physical dental models

invention technical field

The present invention relates to methods, systems and computer program products for obtaining data for manufacturing dental components and physical dental models.

Description of related technologies

概念中提供了一种这样的CAD/CAM程序，其包括各种产品和程序。该牙修复体可以由形成框架例如陶瓷顶盖的牙部件以及镶面层构成。镶面层可以用瓷形成。CAD/CAM程序可以用于仅制造牙部件，或整个牙修复体。Dental restorations, such as bridges, crowns, onlays or inlays, can be prefabricated before they are installed in the patient. Dental restorations can eg be made manually by a dental technician, or manufactured using CAD/CAM (Computer Aided Design/Computation Aided Manufacturing) programs. at Nobel of

One such CAD/CAM program is provided in Concept, which includes various products and programs. The dental restoration may consist of dental parts forming a framework, eg a ceramic coping, and a veneer. The veneer layer may be formed from porcelain. CAD/CAM programs can be used to manufacture only dental components, or entire dental restorations.

Regardless of whether the dental restoration is done manually or with the aid of a CAD/CAM program, the following steps are usually carried out:

By preparing one or several teeth to be restored, a preparation is provided; taking an impression of at least one of the patient's upper and lower jaws, said impression including said preparation; performing a procedure based on said impression Casting to provide a study cast of at least a portion of the patient's tooth structure, preparation and soft tissue; manufacturing the dental component; and fitting and/or adjusting the dental component using the plaster design model and articulator to provide the dental restoration . Commissioning operations may include forming a veneer layer. If a CAD/CAM program is used to form the veneer, the manual adjustment operation may include grinding the veneer to provide a precise fit.

In order to obtain the surface geometry of the patient's tooth structure and possibly adjacent soft tissues, the impression is formed into a negative cast. An occlusal alignment plate may also be obtained to record the spatial relationship of the teeth in the patient's upper and lower jaws. For the method of taking impressions, impression trays can be used. As the impression material cures, plaster is poured into the impression, thereby providing a positive mold of the tooth structure and adjacent soft tissues as the plaster cures.

If a CAD/CAM program is used, the plaster design model can be sectioned, wherein parts of the design model containing the model of the preparation are removed from other parts of the design model. The preparation model can be scanned using a probe scanner or an optical scanner to provide a data record containing information about its surface geometry. This data record can be sent to a manufacturing facility for manufacturing dental components.

The model of the upper jaw and the model of the lower jaw can be fitted into the articulator to be used during the commissioning operation. An occlusal positioning plate may be used to provide a spatial relationship between the models of the upper and lower jaws, which corresponds to the spatial relationship between the teeth of the patient's upper and lower jaws. When the design model has been properly fitted in the articulator using the occlusal positioning plate, the commissioning operation can begin.

When adding a veneer to a dental component, the design model can be used to verify the accuracy of the dental component and/or as a mold for forming the veneer. Design models can also be used for occlusal commissioning and/or verification. During the commissioning operation, the dental components are placed on the preparation model.

Dental components are typically manufactured using high precision manufacturing procedures. Thus, when scanning the model of the preparation to generate a data record for the dental part, a close correlation between the inner surface of the dental part and the outer surface of the preparation model is provided. Accuracy is important in order to inter alia (i.a.) avoid cracking of the dental restoration after final installation on the preparation.

The production of design models is relatively time-consuming and cumbersome. Handling plaster is also inconvenient and difficult. Furthermore, installation of the design model in the articulator is cumbersome and time-consuming. Moreover, the curing time of gypsum is difficult to control. However, it has been considered necessary to prepare plaster models when dental components have to be fitted after CAD production to provide the final restoration. This is because, for example, adjustments to the patient's preparation and/or to one or several occlusal teeth need to be calibrated and precise. Accuracy is improved due to the use of the same model for scanning and debugging operations.

US-A-5,440,496 discloses a CAD/CAM program which describes various techniques for scanning a plaster design model and fabricating a three-dimensional solid to form part of an artificial replacement for one or several teeth.

US-A-2005/0177261 describes a method for treating teeth without using plaster casts. The method includes acquiring a digital dental model taken directly in the oral cavity to generate data representing the digital dental model. A physical dental model is prepared using data representing the digital dental model and a stereolithography apparatus. This physical tooth model was then used as a mold for manual preparation of crowns and for accuracy checks. Although the procedure shown in US-A-2005/0177261 solves some of the problems associated with the use of plaster models, the method does not suggest CAD/CAM preparation of crowns. Accuracy is provided since the crown is formed directly on the physical tooth model.

Summary of the invention

Accordingly, the present invention provides a method of obtaining data for manufacturing dental components and physical dental models, a system for obtaining data for manufacturing dental components and physical dental models, and a computer program for performing the method A product, preferably intended to alleviate, alleviate or eliminate one or more deficiencies, disadvantages or problems in the art as identified above singly or in any combination.

According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of obtaining data for manufacturing a physical dental model of a dental part or at least a part of a dental structure. The method includes obtaining a first data record for manufacturing the dental component, the first data record containing information based on a portion of the digital dental model. Furthermore, the method comprises obtaining a second data record for manufacturing said physical dental model. The second data record contains information based on at least said portion of said digital dental model.

According to some embodiments, obtaining the first data record comprises obtaining a data record containing information of the part of the preparation based on the digital dental model. Furthermore, obtaining the second data record comprises obtaining information of at least said preparation part based on a digital dental model.

According to some embodiments, obtaining the first data record and obtaining the second data record comprises obtaining information on the surface geometry of at least said portion of the digital dental model.

According to some embodiments, the method comprises obtaining at least one digital impression of a portion of the physical impression by controlling the scanner device. The portion of the physical impression comprises an impression of a portion of the tooth structure. Digital dental models are produced based on digital impressions.

According to some embodiments, the obtaining of the at least one data impression comprises controlling the scanner device to apply a first scanning resolution when scanning the first portion of the physical impression. When scanning the second portion of the physical impression, a second scan resolution is applied. The first scan resolution is higher than the second scan resolution.

According to some embodiments, the obtaining of the second record comprises adding a connection interface to at least a part of the digital dental model.

According to some embodiments, obtaining the first data record comprises obtaining a data record comprising information based on the portion of the digital dental model. This part has been generated using the first scan resolution. Obtaining the second data record includes obtaining a data record comprising information based on at least the portion of the digital dental model. The portion has been generated using the second scan resolution. The second scan resolution is lower than the first scan resolution.

According to some embodiments, obtaining the first data record comprises receiving the first data record at the CAM device, and manufacturing at least the dental component based on the first data record.

According to some embodiments, obtaining the second data record includes receiving the second data record on the freeform manufacturing facility. Furthermore, the method includes manufacturing a physical dental model based on the second data record.

According to another aspect, a computer program product comprising computer program code means for performing a method for obtaining data for manufacturing a physical dental model of a dental component and at least a part of a dental structure, when said computer program The encoding device is controlled by electronic means with computer capabilities.

According to another aspect, there is provided a system for obtaining data for manufacturing a physical dental model of a dental component and at least a portion of a dental structure. The system comprises a data record generation unit adapted to obtain a first data record for manufacturing a dental component. The first data record contains information based on a part of the digital dental model. Furthermore, the system is adapted to obtain a second data record for manufacturing the physical dental model. The second data record contains information based on at least the portion of the digital dental model.

According to some embodiments, the data record generation unit is adapted to obtain a first data record, ie a data record comprising information of the preparation part based on the digital dental model. Furthermore, the data record generation unit is adapted to obtain second data record information based on the digital dental model of at least the preparation part.

According to some embodiments, the data record generating unit is adapted to obtain the first data record and the second data record information of the surface geometry of at least said portion of the digital dental model.

According to some embodiments, the data record generation unit is adapted to obtain at least one digital impression of a part of the physical impression by controlling the scanner device. The first part of the physical impression contains an impression of a part of the tooth structure. Furthermore, the data record generating unit is adapted to generate a digital dental model based on the digital impression.

According to some embodiments, the data record generating unit is adapted to control the scanner device to apply a first scanning resolution when scanning the first part of the physical impression and to apply a second scanning resolution when scanning the second part of the physical impression . The first scan resolution is higher than the second scan resolution.

According to some embodiments, the data record generation unit is adapted to add a connection interface to at least a part of the digital dental model.

According to some embodiments, the data record generating unit is adapted to obtain a first data record, ie a data record containing information based on said portion of the digital dental model. The portion has been generated using the first scan resolution. Furthermore, the data record generating unit is adapted to obtain a second data record, ie a data record comprising information based at least on said part of the digital dental model. The portion has been generated using the second scan resolution. The second scan resolution is lower than the first scan resolution.

According to some embodiments, the system comprises a CAM device adapted to receive the first data record. Furthermore, the CAM device is adapted to manufacture at least a dental component based on the first data record.

According to some embodiments, the system includes a free-form fabrication device adapted to receive the second data record. Furthermore, the free-form manufacturing device is adapted to manufacture at least a physical dental model based on the second data record.

According to another aspect, a data storage device comprises at least one of a first data record and a second data record.

Further embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

It should be emphasized that when the term "comprises/comprising" is used in this specification, it is used to specify the existence of the stated features, integers, steps or components, but not to exclude another one or more The presence of other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

Brief description of the drawings

Other objects, features and advantages of embodiments of the present invention will appear from the following detailed description, reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a system for manufacturing dental components and physical dental models;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an impression tray;

Figure 3a is a cross-sectional view of the impression tray of Figure 2 as the patient bites into the impression material;

Figure 3b is a cross-sectional view of the impression tray of Figure 2 with a physical impression;

Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a scanner device;

Fig. 5 is the perspective view of digital tooth model;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a digital dental impression;

Figure 7 is a flowchart of an embodiment of a method for obtaining first and second data records;

Figure 8a is a perspective view of an embodiment of the articulator;

Figure 8b is a perspective view of an embodiment of a physical model; and

Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a data record generation unit.

Detailed description of the implementation

Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems, methods and one or more devices for fabricating at least one dental component and physical dental model 80 ( FIG. 8b ) of at least a portion of a patient's dental structure ( FIG. 3a ). The dental structure may comprise a tooth, several teeth, and/or the soft tissues of the patient's oral cavity. A dental component may for example comprise a framework, eg a coping for a crown or bridge manufactured by a CAM program. A veneer such as porcelain can be added manually to a dental component to provide a final dental restoration such as a crown or bridge. Alternatively, the final dental restoration is manufactured by a CAM program. Thus, the dental component may be a final bridge or crown comprising a framework and veneering layers added on top of it by a CAM program. Embodiments of the present invention allow for the fabrication of at least one custom dental component using high accuracy CAM and subsequent fitting on the physical dental model 80 . A physical dental model 80 as well as dental components can be manufactured based on the data records. This data record can be obtained from scan data. The scan data may be obtained from an impression of at least a portion of the patient's dental structure. Said part may be at least a part of the preparation on which the dental component should be mounted.

Embodiments of the present invention eliminate the need to make plaster design models. Thus, the efficiency of systems according to embodiments of the present invention is increased compared to systems using CAD/CAM programs with plaster design models and/or systems comprising hand-fabricated dental components. Furthermore, the data records for the dental component and the data for the physical dental model 80 have the same origin. The source may be a digital dental model 50 (Fig. 5) obtained from a physical impression of the patient's dental structure. Thus, accuracy between the physical dental model 80 and the dental component is also provided.

Figure 1 illustrates a system for manufacturing dental components and a physical dental model 80 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The system comprises an impression taking means 1 , a scanner device 2 , a data record generating unit 3 , a first manufacturing device 4 , a second manufacturing device 5 , commissioning equipment 6 and installation equipment 7 .

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of an impression-taking member 2 . In the embodiment of Figure 2, the impression taking member comprises an impression tray 10 into which impression material can be applied. Embodiments of the impression tray 10 are designed for use in systems according to embodiments of the present invention. The impression tray 10 according to the embodiment of FIG. 2 is a triple impression tray which can be used to obtain in a single step at least a part of the upper jaw, at least a part of the mandible and the bite positioning plate ( bite index) physical impression 30 (Fig. 3b). The impression-taking member 1 according to FIG. 2 belongs to a separate patent application entitled "Dental impression tray for obtaining an impression of a dental structure" filed by the applicant of the present application on the same date of the present application, said separate The entire content of the patent application is hereby incorporated by reference.

The impression tray 10 comprises a tray portion 11 adapted to be filled with impression material. The tray part 11 has a profile to fit at least a part of the dental structure (see Fig. 3b). The impression tray 10 further comprises a handle 12 connected to or adapted/shaped to be connected to the tray part 11 . The handle 12 has a first end at which the handle 12 is connected or adapted to be connected to the tray part 11 . The handle 12 also has a second end which is distal to the tray part when the handle is connected to the tray part. In some embodiments, the second end of the handle 12 has an edge facing away from the tray portion. In such an embodiment, the edge may form a distinct straight line when viewed from the side facing away from the tray portion. The length of the straight line is at least 30mm. In some embodiments, the length of the line formed by the edge is at least 60 mm when viewed from the side facing away from the tray portion. In some embodiments, the straight line formed by the edge may have a length of at least 80 mm. In some embodiments of the invention, the handle may be removably secured to the tray portion.

In some embodiments, the handle 12 may include two separate handles 12a, 12b adapted to be connected to each other such that the separate handles 12a, 12b partially but not completely overlap each other. In such embodiments where the handle comprises separate parts, the separate handles 12a, 12b may be adapted to be connected to each other by snap-on catches formed by the handles 12a, 12b. However, the connection can also be other than a snap-fit connection. In embodiments where the handle comprises a split portion, the split portions 12a, 12b may be identical in shape. Embodiments are also possible in which the separate handles are not identical in shape.

In embodiments where the handle 12 comprises separate handles 12a, 12b, each of the separate handles 12a, 12b may be designed in such a way that the handle 12 is locked to the tray portion 11 to complement the ones of the tray portion 11. The parts 13 are mated as long as the separate handles 12a, 12b are connected to each other.

The tray part 11 has a shape defining at least one cavity 14 with an inner wall 15 . In some embodiments, the impression tray 10 may also include a pad that fits in at least a portion of the cavity 14 of the tray portion 11 . In such an embodiment, the inner wall 15 may be provided with a first guide structure and the pad may be provided with a second guide structure cooperating with the first guide structure. Thus, the first and second guide structures may cooperate with each other in a manner that allows the pad to move within the tray portion in a movement guided by the cooperating guide structure. The first guide structure may comprise a protrusion forming a track, and the second guide structure comprises a groove adapted to receive the protrusion of the first guide structure. Alternatively it is possible, for example, that the second guide structure comprises tracks interacting with grooves in the inner wall 15 .

The pads can be made from many different materials. In some embodiments, the pad is made of elastic material.

In some embodiments, the tray portion 11 may be contoured to fit a portion of both the patient's upper and lower dentition (see Figure 3a), and the outer surface of the impression tray 10 may be provided with At least one trustee token 16a, 16b. Such trustee indicia 16a, 16b can have many different shapes and can be implemented in many different ways. In some embodiments, such trustee indicia 16a, 16b may be made of a radio wave opaque material. This can be used to use the impression tray 10 as a radiographic guide.

In some embodiments, the impression tray 10 may be provided with machine-readable identification, such as an RFID tag, for example. The machine-readable identification can also be realized in other ways, for example as a barcode. An identifier of the machine-readable identifier may be entered into at least one of the first data record and the second data record.

In the following, the physical impression 30 will also be mentioned. The physical impression 30 may comprise an impression of at least a portion of the patient's dental structure. The dental structure may comprise at least one tooth, at least one preparation, and/or soft tissue. Each preparation can contain a single tooth or several teeth. A preparation can consist of a tooth on which a crown, inlay or onlay will be fitted. Alternatively or additionally, the preparation may contain several teeth on which the bridge is to be mounted.

FIG. 3 a discloses a cross-section of the impression tray 10 of FIG. 2 . The first cavity 17a and the second cavity 17b of the impression tray 10 are filled with an impression material. The first cavity 17 a and the second cavity 17 b are separated by a partition 18 . In the embodiment of FIG. 3 a , the patient bites down on the impression tray 10 to make a physical impression 30 . The first tooth 20 has entered into the first cavity 17a. The preparation 21 has entered the second cavity 17b. Soft tissue 22a, 22b has entered the first cavity 17a and the second cavity 17b. When the impression material has cured, the impression tray 10 may be removed from the patient and the impression material with the physical impression 30 formed therein will remain in the impression tray 10 .

FIG. 3b illustrates the physical impression 30 . In the embodiment of FIG. 3 b , the physical stamp 30 comprises a first physical stamp 31 and a second physical stamp 32 . The first physical impression 31 comprises an impression of the teeth 20 and soft tissue 22a. The second physical impression 32 comprises an impression of the preparation 21 and the soft tissue 22b.

The scanner device 2 can be used to generate data for a digital dental model 50 . The data for the digital tooth model 50 may be surface data replicating the geometry of the patient's tooth structure. The surface data may be, for example, 3-D (three-dimensional) vector-based surface data.

In one embodiment, the scanner device 2 comprises an optical scanner, such as a laser scanner. According to an embodiment of the method of the invention, software can be used to control the scanner device 2 . The scanner device 2 can operate on the physical impression 30 . An optical scanner operating on the physical impression 30 is available from 3Shape, Denmark, under the trade designation D-250TM. In some embodiments, the optical scanner is a laser line scanner. In other embodiments, the optical scanner is a laser scanner utilizing laser triangulation.

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of the scanner device 2 . The scanner device 2 of FIG. 4 includes a light transmitter 40 and a light receiver 41 . Light emitted by light emitter 40 may be reflected by physical stamp 30 and received by light receiver 41 . In addition, the scanner device 2 includes a movable plate 42 . The physical stamp 30 may be positioned on a movable plate 42 and moved during scanning such that the physical stamp 30 is visible to the light emitter 40 and the light receiver 41 .

In another embodiment, the scanner device 2 comprises an intraoral scanner device for impressionless scanning. An example of an intraoral scanner is available from Cadent Corporation of Carlstadt, NJ, USA. Thus, according to some embodiments, impressionless generation of dental components and physical dental models 30 is provided.

FIG. 5 illustrates a digital tooth model 50 . The digital dental model 50 may include a first digital dental model 51 and a second digital dental model 52 . The first digital dental model 51 may be a model of the upper jaw. Furthermore, the first digital dental model 51 may comprise at least one tooth 53 , at least one preparation (not shown) and/or soft tissue 54 . The second digital dental model 52 may be a model of the lower jaw. Furthermore, the second digital dental model 52 may comprise at least one tooth 55 , at least one preparation 56 , and/or soft tissue 57 . The first digital tooth model 51 and the second digital tooth model 52 may be models of the occlusal part of the patient's tooth structure, such as models of a preparation and its opposing teeth.

FIG. 6 illustrates a digital impression 60 . The digital impression 60 comprises at least one digital impression of the structure of the oral cavity. In the embodiment of FIG. 6 , the digital impression 60 comprises a first digital impression 61 and a second digital impression 62 . Furthermore, in the embodiment of Fig. 6, the first digital impression 61 and the second digital impression 62 are impressions of the occlusal portion of the tooth structure.

FIG. 7 illustrates one embodiment of a method for obtaining a digital dental model 50 . In a first step 100 at least one digital impression 60 is obtained. In one embodiment, a first digital impression 61 corresponding to the first portion of the first physical impression 31 is obtained. Furthermore, at least a second digital impression 62 corresponding to the second portion of the second physical impression 32 is obtained. If the physical model 60 should include adjacent and/or occlusal parts of the tooth structure, a second digital impression 62 can be obtained. The first digital impression 61 contains at least one digital impression of the preparation of the dental structure. Furthermore, the first digital impression 61 may comprise a digital impression of at least one adjacent tooth and/or soft tissue. The second digital impression 62 may comprise a digital impression of at least one occlusal tooth and/or soft tissue. Each occlusal tooth or teeth of the second digital impression 62 may occlude with a tooth or teeth of the preparation and/or the first digital impression 61 . The first digital impression 51 and the second digital impression 62 can be obtained by controlling the scanner device 2 to scan the physical impression 30 .

Control of the scanner device 2 may include controlling the light transmitter 40 and/or the light receiver 41 . Control of the light emitters 41 may, for example, include directing the light emitters/receivers 41, 42 towards the surface of the physical stamp 30, controlling light generation, and/or moving the physical stamp 30 relative to the light emitters/receivers 41, 42 , or vice versa. Alternatively, the movement of the light emitters/receivers 41 , 42 and/or the physical stamp 30 is controlled. It is also possible to control the communication with the scanner device 2 so that the data obtained by the scanning operation is received from the scanner device 2 by the digital record generating unit 3 .

Control of the scanner device 2 includes, in some embodiments, controlling the scanner device 2 to perform measurements. The measurement involves measuring the distance from a reference point to the surface of the physical impression 30 . The measurement method also includes obtaining the geometry of the physical impression 30 based on the measurement data and forming a digital impression 60 therefrom.

The generation of the first digital impression 61 and the second digital impression 62 may eg be used to manufacture the occlusal part of the physical dental model 80 . The physical dental model 80 thus obtained may be used for at least one of occlusal checking and accuracy control of dental components and/or dental restorations. In order to provide a correct occlusal relationship between the first digital impression 61 and the second digital impression 62, an impression tray 10 according to Fig. 2 may be used. According to some embodiments, the physical impression 31 , 32 is supported by the impression tray 10 while the physical impression 31 , 32 is being scanned. The scanner device 2 can then be controlled to scan the physical impressions 31 , 32 as well as the impression tray 10 . In step 101 , a first physical impression 31 is scanned together with at least a part of the impression tray 10 . In step 102 a second physical impression 32 is scanned together with said part of the impression tray 10 . The first physical impression 31 and the second physical impression 32 may be scanned simultaneously, or in successive steps. Scanning in successive steps allows the use of a single light emitter/receiver pair. The portion of the impression tray scanned in step 101 is the same as the portion of the impression tray scanned in step 102 . The portion of the impression tray that is scanned may comprise at least a portion of the outer surface of the impression tray 10 that is not covered by impression material. The portion of the impression tray that is scanned may include at least one of assignee marks 16a, 16b.

Based on the scan data obtained in steps 101 and 102, a first digital impression 61 and a second digital impression 62 can be obtained. The first digital impression 61 and the second digital impression 62 contain a digitized version of the part of the impression tray that was scanned. In FIG. 6 , the digitized version of the part of the scanned impression tray contains assignee marks 63 .

In step 103 , the first digital impression 61 and the second digital impression 62 are aligned. By aligning at least a part of the digitized version of said portion of the stamp, the first digital impression 61 and the second digital impression 62 may be aligned. The more digitized versions of the impression trays that are aligned, the better the alignment can be. Since the digitized versions of said parts of the impression tray 10 in the respective digital impressions 61, 62 have the same origin, a correct occlusal relationship between the first digital impression 61 and the second digital impression 62 will be provided. . Thus, the spatial relationship between the first and second digital impression 61 , 62 will correspond to the spatial relationship between the tooth structure on which the first and second impression 61 , 62 are based.

In some embodiments, the arranging operation may include adding a digital mark on the assignee mark 63 of the first digital impression 61 and adding a second digital mark on the same reference surface 63 of the second digital impression 62 . Digital markers can be added manually by an operator by controlling, for example, a cursor to place the markers. The digital marker may indicate an area of said portion of the digitized version of the impression tray where the alignment operation should start. This can shorten the processing time for permutation operations. The alignment operation itself can be performed by generally known image processing. One method for aligning digital impressions is eg available from the dental scanner D-250 ^(TM) .

In some embodiments, scanner device 2 is controlled to apply a first scan resolution to a first portion of physical impression 30 and to apply a second scan resolution to a second portion of physical impression 30 . The first scan resolution may be higher than the second scan resolution. The portion scanned using the first scan resolution may be a physical impression of the preparation portion of the dental structure. The part scanned using the second scanning resolution may be an impression of the preparation part. Furthermore, at least a portion of the dental structure adjacent to the preparation portion may be scanned using the second scanning resolution. The adjacent part may for example be one or several teeth adjacent to the preparation part, a tooth occlusal with the preparation part and/or the adjacent tooth or teeth, and/or soft tissue. After the scans using the first and second resolutions have been performed, the data obtained using the first scan resolution is merged or combined with the data obtained using the second scan resolution. The method for merging data is available from the dental scanner D-250 ^(TM) described.

In some embodiments, a single scan resolution is used.

The first scan resolution may be set high enough to provide sufficient resolution for making the digital dental model 50 of the restored dental model. The second scan resolution may be high enough to make a physical tooth model 80 . The need for accuracy of the dental components is generally higher than the accuracy of the physical dental model 80 . Thus, only that part of the digital dental model 50 on which the dental component is based needs to be obtained using the first scan resolution. Utilizing higher scan resolutions generally increases processing time compared to lower scan resolutions. Thus, the use of the first and second scan resolutions reduces the overall processing time, although with sufficient accuracy for restoring the dental restoration as well as the physical tooth model 80 .

The scan resolution can be set using the following procedure. Firstly, the scanner is controlled to obtain test data of at least the physical impression 30 and possibly the impression tray 10 . The test data may be provided using a scan resolution lower than the first scan resolution. This trial data is visualized so that the user knows that the physical impression 30 and impression tray 10 are scannable, ie visible to the light emitter 40 and light receiver 41 . Also, the user may select portions of the physical impression 30 to be scanned using the first and second scanning resolutions. By controlling the cursor and drawing a reference line around the portion to be scanned using the first and second scan resolutions, the portion can be selected. Then, the scanning operation can be started. Scanning using the first and second scanning resolutions can be performed automatically. By selecting the areas to be scanned, any areas that do not need to be scanned are omitted from the scanning process. Thus, the scan time for scanning objects in the scanner device 2 can be shortened compared to scanning all objects in the scanner device 2 .

In FIG. 5, reference line 58 represents an area that has been scanned using the first scanning resolution. The area inside the reference line forms the preparatory part of the second digital impression 62 . The preparation portion may comprise a preparation 56 and soft tissue 57 .

The digital impression 60 may eg be represented as a point cloud. In step 104 a positive digital dental model may be generated based on the digital impression 61 , 62 . The conversion of negative geometric shapes into their corresponding positive geometric shapes is generally known. A method for this purpose is available, for example, from the dental scanner D-250 ^™ described. Therefore, the conversion of the digital impression 6+ to an orthodox dental model will not be discussed in detail in this paper. In some embodiments, the digital dental impression 61, 62 is converted into a digital dental model 51, 52 prior to the alignment operation. Thus, the first digital dental model 51 and the second digital dental model 52 are aligned using the same procedure as that used to align the first digital impression 61 and the second digital impression 62 . The method for arranging the first digital impression 61 and the second digital impression 62 is also available from 3Shape with respect to the dental scanner D-250 ^™ described.

According to some embodiments, a first data record and a second data record are obtained. The first digital record and the second digital record can be obtained from a single digital dental model 50 . The digital dental model 50 includes at least a preparation 56 to which dental parts are intended to be supplied.

The first data record contains information on the part of the preparation based on the digital dental model 50 . This first digital record can be used to manufacture dental components.

The second data record contains information based on at least a portion of the digital dental model 60 . The portion is at least the portion on which the first data record is based. Said portion may contain digital ready 56 . Furthermore, the information of the second data record may be based on any other part of the first digital dental model 51 and/or the second digital dental model 52 . The second data record can be used to manufacture the physical tooth model 80 . In some embodiments, the second data record only contains information based on the digital preparation 56 and possibly soft tissue 576, but does not contain information based on the adjacent tooth or teeth.

Obtaining the second data record may include adding a connection interface to the digital dental model 50 . Information on the connection interface is included in the second data record. The connection interface of the physical dental model 80 can be used to connect the physical dental model 80 to the commissioning equipment 6 . In another embodiment, the connection interface and commissioning equipment are provided as an integral unit. Thus, it is also possible to add digital fitting to the digital dental model 50 and to include information based on this digital fitting in the second data record. This allows for the creation of customized commissioning rigs. The digital adjustment equipment may be, for example, a digital articulator.

The first digital dental model 51 and the second digital dental model 52 may be related to a virtual reference plane. In some embodiments, the connection interface of the first digital dental model 51 may have a first spatial relationship with respect to the virtual reference surface. The connection interface of the second digital dental model 52 may have a second spatial relationship with respect to said reference plane. In some embodiments, the digital dental models 51, 52 are aligned with virtual reference surfaces. Thus, the digital dental models 51, 52 are arranged with a connection interface. The second record may contain information of at least one of the first surface and the second surface. The first surface may be formed by at least part of the first digital dental model 51 and its associated connection interface. The second surface may be formed by at least part of the second digital dental model 52 and its associated connection interface. The information of the first surface and the information of the second surface may comprise the geometry of the first surface and the second surface, respectively. The information of the first surface and the information of the second surface may be vector-based CAD information, such as 3D shapes.

The data generation for the dental component can be carried out by means of data generation methods suitable for this purpose. The data generation method may be provided, for example, by a CAD application.

In the following, a data generation method suitable for generating data for the first data record will be described. By removing a portion from the digital dental model 50, a preparation 56 of the digital model 50, ie a digital preparation 56, can be created. In some embodiments, the digital preparation 56 is generated by marking a certain region of the digital dental model 50, for example by controlling a cursor of a CAD application. The marked area can be copied. Alternatively, the marked area can be cut away. Additionally, at least a portion of the digital preparation 56 of the preparation may be represented in the first scan resolution. Thus, any dental part manufactured based on the digital preparation 56 , which in turn is based on the digital dental model 50 , may have an accuracy corresponding to the scan resolution, although depending on the manufacturing accuracy. The digital preparation 56 may form the basis for the manufacture of dental components.

A digital preparatory line can be added to the preparatory part. This digital preparation line can be used to define where the dental part should end. The geometry of the surface of the dental component may correspond to the geometry of the digital preparation 56 as defined by the preparation lines. The preparation line can be used to define the cap. If the preparation comprises a first and a second preparation part, the preparation part can be used to form the dental bridge coping. In some embodiments, a digital prep is formed from a number of line marks. Prep lines are formed by connecting line markers with lines. Line markers can be positioned by controlling the cursor and/or using the drag-and-drop functionality of the CAD application.

The first manufacturing device 4 can operate based on a TRM file, ie a data file with a TRM file format. Furthermore, digital preparation 56 may be represented by a surface model, eg, data representing a vector-based 3D model. This vector-based model can be converted into a TRM-based representation. The transformation can be provided by scanning the surface of the preparation part when it is in a vector-based representation. Data for TRM files may be provided using a virtual radial scanner. The preparation line provides the line at which the scan should terminate or begin. The data of a TRM file contains radial traces of coordinates that together form a virtual surface, such as a 3D surface. Thus, a TRM file represents a 3D object using radial point information. In some embodiments, the virtual scanner measures the distance from a reference point to a specific point on the surface of digital preparation 50 . This can be used, for example, to simulate a probe scanner.

When the digital preparation 56 has been scanned using the virtual scanner, the digital preparation 56 is represented by the first data set and the second data set. The first data set may be a vector-based representation. The second data set may be a point-based representation. In some embodiments, the first data set and the second data set are visualized simultaneously. Alternatively or additionally, the first data set is visualized superimposed on the second data set, or vice versa. Also, the first and second data sets may be visualized using the first and second colors. Thus, it can be verified visually that the first data set corresponds to the second data set in terms of their surface geometry. External data sets can be visualized translucently, so that correspondence will be easily verified. Alternatively, the first and second data sets are alternately visualized on top of each other.

By visualizing the first data set and the second data set, it can be visually determined whether the surface formed by the first data set corresponds to the surface formed by the second data set.

The first data record may contain information such as a first data file comprising data describing the geometry of the dental component to be manufactured. A first file format may be used for the first data file. The first file format may correspond to the file format used by the first manufacturing device 4 . Furthermore, the first file format may eg be a TRM file format.

The first data record and/or the second data record can contain patient information. Patient information may eg be identification data. The identification data may be an identifier selected by the user. Alternatively or additionally, the identification data may be a unique identifier, such as a UUID (Universally Unique Identifier). Patient information may also include name, treatment ID, and/or patient number. The identification data can also be identification data of the impression tray 10 .

The second data record may contain information such as at least a second data file comprising data describing the geometry of the physical dental model 80 to be manufactured. The second data record may contain separate data files for the first physical dental model 81 and the second physical dental model 82 to be produced. Alternatively, a single data file contains data describing the geometry of both the first and second physical tooth models 61 , 62 . A second file format may be used for the second data file. The second file format may correspond to the file format used by the second manufacturing device 5 . The second file format may eg be an STL (Stereo Lithography) file format.

In some embodiments, obtaining the first data record includes receiving the first data record at the first manufacturing device 4 . Also, obtaining the first data record may include retrieving the first data file from the first data record. The first manufacturing device 4 can then be controlled using this first data file. The control of such manufacturing devices using data files describing geometries is generally known and will not be described in detail herein.

In some embodiments, obtaining the second data record includes receiving the second data record at the second fabrication device 5 . Also, obtaining the second data record may include retrieving the second data file from the second data record. Then, the second manufacturing device 5 is controlled using the second data file.

The first fabrication device 4 may comprise free form fabrication equipment. Freeform fabrication equipment may, for example, include a CIM (Computer Integrated Manufacturing) system. The CIM system may, for example, include at least one of SLA (Stereolithography Apparatus), CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machining, EDM (Electrical Discharge Machining), and a Swiss automatic machining system. For example, if an SLA system is used, the second file format may have an STL file format. The control of such manufacturing devices using data files describing geometries is generally known and will not be described in detail herein.

When the physical dental model 80 and dental components have been manufactured, the commissioning equipment 6 can be used to complete the dental restoration. Fitting operations may, for example, include capping of dental components, milling and/or occlusal checks.

FIG. 8 a illustrates an embodiment of the commissioning equipment 6 . The commissioning equipment 6 and the physical dental model 80 are also part of a separate patent application entitled "Dental Model, Articulator and Method of Making It" filed on the same date as this application and the entire content of said separate patent application is incorporated by reference combined here.

In the embodiment of Fig. 8a, the commissioning equipment 6 comprises an articulator 70 designed for a system according to an embodiment of the invention. The articulator 6 comprises a first part 70a and a second part 70b. For illustrative purposes, the second portion 70b is shown with phantom lines. Each section contains male/female devices. Each male/female arrangement comprises at least two separate discrete elements 71a, 71b. In some embodiments, the male/female arrangement comprises three separate discrete elements 71a, 71b, 71c. The discontinuous elements 71a, 71b, 71c may be formed as protrusions and recesses. The discontinuous elements 71a, 71b, 71c are provided to simulate the natural movement of the patient's jaw for the purpose of commissioning operations and accuracy checks. The size and position of the discontinuous elements 71a, 71b, 71c are configured so that when the surfaces 72, 73 are in contact, a gap is formed between the side walls of each of the protrusions and recesses, respectively. The surfaces 72, 73 are seated on support portions 74a, 74b of the first and second portions 70a, 70b of the articulator 70, respectively.

The articulator 70 comprises a connection interface for connecting a physical dental model 80 ( FIG. 8 b ) to the articulator 70 . In the embodiment of FIG. 8 a , the connection interface comprises an engagement interface 75 . The mating interface 75 may include at least one of a protrusion and a recess. The engagement interface 75 of the articulator 70 is adapted to engage an engagement interface 76 integrally formed with the physical dental model 80 (Fig. 8b). In this embodiment, the shape of the occlusal interface 75 of the articulator 70 is complementary to the shape of the occlusal interface 76 of the physical dental model 80 . The engagement interface 76 enables quick locking and quick release of the physical dental model 80 . In the embodiment of Figures 8a-8b, the engagement interface 75 of the articulator 70 comprises an elongated recess. The occlusal interface 76 of the physical tooth model 80 includes elongated protrusions. Thus, sliding engagement is facilitated. In other embodiments, the mating interfaces 75, 76 form a snap-fit interface. The releasable engagement interface between the articulator 70 and the physical tooth model 80 allows the articulator 70 to be made reusable. Also, the material of the physical dental model 80 can be kept to a minimum.

In some embodiments, the physical dental model is integrated with the articulator (not shown). Thus, the engaging surfaces of the articulator are integrally formed with the physical dental model. If the physical dental model is integrated with the articulator, a precise and permanent positioning of the physical dental model into the articulator is achieved. It is also possible to make the positioning extremely robust, eg to withstand rough handling during transport.

FIG. 8b illustrates a physical tooth model 80 . The physical dental model 80 may comprise a first physical dental model 81 and a second physical dental model 82 . The first physical dental model 81 may be a model of the upper jaw and may comprise at least one tooth, at least one preparation, and/or soft tissue. The second physical tooth model 82 may be a model of the lower jaw, and may include at least one tooth, at least one preparation, and/or soft tissue.

In the embodiment of FIG. 8 a , the first physical dental model 81 comprises a model of the preparation 83 . The first physical dental model 81 also contains teeth 84a, 84b adjacent to the preparation 83 and soft tissue 85 . The second physical tooth model 82 contains occlusal teeth 86a, 86b, 86c and soft tissue 87 . In some embodiments, a third physical model (not shown) is provided. On the third physical model, a recess is provided around the model of the preparation 83 . This recess is placed where the dental part will end when it is mounted on the model of the preparation 83 . This recess can be formed using a CAD application according to an embodiment of the invention and thus included in the second data record. Thus, a recess around the prosthesis model can be produced using the second production device 5 .

In some embodiments, the dental model is made from a controllably curable material, which allows high accuracy and quality to be obtained despite changes in temperature and humidity. Such a controllably curable material may be any material used in free-form fabrication techniques such as rapid prototyping techniques. For example, if the SLA process is used, the controllably curable material may comprise a photopolymer resin. The resin can be cured by controlling the beam of an ultraviolet laser. A controllable curable material refers to a material that can be cured using a control device such as the data record generation unit 3 .

FIG. 9 illustrates an embodiment of the data record generation unit 3 . The data record generation unit 3 in the embodiment of FIG. 9 comprises a visualization unit 200 , an input interface 201 , a memory 202 , a controller 203 and a communication interface 204 . The data record generation unit 3 may, for example, contain a computer.

The visualization unit 200 may include a display. The visualization unit 200 may be used to display eg a digital model 50, a digital impression 60, an application for a method according to an embodiment of the present invention, and/or a CAD application.

The input interface 201 may include at least one of a mouse, a keyboard, a stylus pad, a touch pad, and a joystick. A user can input information into the data record generation unit 3 using the input interface 201 . In addition, a user can control a cursor displayed on the visualization unit 200 using the input interface 201 .

The memory 202 may include at least one of RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory), flash memory, and nonvolatile memory. The memory 202 may be used to store any information received from the scanner device 2 . Furthermore, software for controlling the scanner device 2 as well as any other devices or equipment may be stored in the memory 202 . The memory 202 may also store software for implementing methods according to embodiments of the present invention.

The controller 203 may include a processing unit such as at least one of a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit). The controller 203 may be adapted to run software for controlling the scanner device 2, communicate with the first manufacturing device 4 and/or the second manufacturing device 5 via the communication interface 204, and/or perform methods according to embodiments of the invention.

The communication interface 204 may include at least one of a serial cable interface, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface, a WAN communication interface, and a LAN communication interface.

Any one of the scanner device 2 , the first manufacturing device 4 and the second manufacturing device 5 may include a communication interface 204 corresponding to the data record generating unit 3 .

A system according to the invention may be located at one or more geographical locations. For example, physical impression 30 may be made at a first location, such as at a dentist. The scanner device 2 may be located at a first geographic location. Alternatively, the scanner device 2 may be located at a second geographical location, for example at a dental technician. The data record generating unit 3 can be located at the dentist, the dental technician or at the manufacturing facility. The first manufacturing device 4 and the second manufacturing device 5 may be located at the same or different geographical locations. Any of the equipment of the system according to the invention can be connected via a connection interface. Each connection interface may comprise a connection line, a LAN (Local Area Network) and/or a WAN (Wide Area Network) connection interface.

After the manufacture of the physical dental model 30 and the dental components, they can be shipped, possibly via a distribution center, to the geographical location of the commissioning facility 6 . The geographical location of the commissioning device 6 can be, for example, a dentist or a dental technician. After the commissioning operation, the dental restoration can be delivered for installation using the installation equipment 7 . The mounting equipment 7 may contain cement for connecting the dental restoration to the patient's preparation.

The information used to manufacture the dental component and the physical dental model 80 is provided as a data record, which allows centralized production of customized dental components as well as the physical dental model 80 . This in turn allows for economies of scale and thus reduced costs.

Systems according to embodiments of the present invention are flexible. Furthermore, the exclusion of the plaster design model allows a reduction in the number of steps that need to be performed compared to using a plaster design model. For example, sectioning and/or milling of plaster design models is not required. Thus, the efficiency of the system according to the invention is increased compared to systems using plaster to design models. Systems according to embodiments of the present invention are also more efficient than any system using handcrafting, where the dental part is built layer by layer on the basis of the frame, although the frame is not manufactured by using a plaster design model. The handcrafting of dental parts inherently involves a lot of work. Since the dental part and the physical model 60 are based on a single digital model and even the same surface of the digital model 50, excellent accuracy can be provided. Thus, the inner surface of the dental component and the outer surface of the model can have a very tight fit.

Embodiments of the present invention can be incorporated into a computer program product capable of performing the methods and functions described herein. The present invention can be implemented when the computer program product is loaded and run in a computer-capable system. Computer program, software program, program product or software in this context means any expression of a set of instructions in any programming language, code or notation, which is intended to cause a system having processing After the or symbol, perform a specific function.

Each of the first data record and the second data record may be stored in the storage device. The first data record and the second data record can be stored in a common storage device. This common storage device can be, for example, the memory 202 of the data record generation unit 3 . Alternatively or additionally, the first data record and the second data record may be stored on separate storage means. The separate storage means may eg be a memory of each of the first manufacturing means 4 and the second manufacturing means 5 respectively.

The present invention has been described above by referring to specific embodiments. However, other embodiments than those described above are equally possible within the spirit and scope of the invention. Method steps other than those described above for carrying out the method by hardware or software may be provided within the spirit and scope of the invention. The different features and steps of the invention may be combined in other combinations than those described. The scope of the invention is limited only by the appended patent claims.

Claims (18)

1. an acquisition is for the manufacture of the method for the data of the physics dental cast (80,81,82) of at least a portion of tooth parts and dental structure, and described method comprises:

Acquisition is for the manufacture of the first data record of described tooth parts, and described the first data record comprises the information based on the first of digital dental cast (50,51,52); With

Acquisition is for the manufacture of the second data record of described physics dental cast (80,8,82), and described the second data record comprises the information based on the second portion of the described at least first that comprises described digital dental cast (50,51,52),

The first of wherein said digital dental cast uses the first scanning resolution to produce, and the second portion of described digital dental cast use the second scanning resolution generation, and described the second scanning resolution is lower than described the first scanning resolution.

2. method according to claim 1 wherein obtains described the first data record and comprises the data record that obtains to comprise the information that the preparation body based on described digital dental cast (50,51,52) divides, and

Obtain described the second data record and comprise the information that the described at least preparation body based on described digital dental cast (50,51,52) divides that obtains.

3. according to the described method of any one in aforementioned claim, wherein obtain described the first data record and obtain the information that described the second data record comprises the morphology of the described at least part that obtains described digital dental cast (50,51,52).

4. method according to claim 1, described method comprises:

By gated sweep instrument apparatus (2), obtain at least one number stamp (60,61,62) of the part of physics die (30,31,32), the described part of described physics die (30,31,32) comprises the die of the part of described dental structure; With

Generation is based on the digital dental cast (50,51,52) of described number stamp (60,61,62).

5. method according to claim 4, the step of at least one number stamp of wherein said acquisition (60,61,62) comprises controls described scanner device (2), to use the first scanning resolution when scanning the first of described physics die (30,31,32), and use the second scanning resolution when the second portion of the described physics die of scanning (30,31,32), described the first scanning resolution is higher than described the second scanning resolution.

6. method according to claim 1, wherein obtain described the second data record and comprise that at least a portion to described digital dental cast (50,51,52) increases linkage interface.

7. method according to claim 1, wherein

Obtaining described the first data record comprises: acquisition comprises the data record based on the information of the described part of described digital dental cast (50,51,52), and described part has used the first scanning resolution to produce; With

Obtaining described the second data record comprises: acquisition comprises the data record based on the information of the described at least part of described digital dental cast (50,51,52), described part has used the second scanning resolution to produce, and described the second scanning resolution is lower than described the first scanning resolution.

8. method according to claim 1, wherein obtain described the first data record and be included in described the first data record of reception on CAM equipment, and based on described the first described at least tooth parts of data record manufacturing.

9. method according to claim 1, wherein obtain described the second data record and be included in described the second data record of reception on the free form manufacturing equipment, and described method comprises based on described the second data record manufacturing described physics dental cast (80,81,82).

10. an acquisition is for the manufacture of the system of the data of the physics dental cast (80,81,82) of at least a portion of tooth parts and dental structure, and described system comprises data record generation unit (3), and described data record generation unit (3) is suitable for:

Acquisition is for the manufacture of the first data record of described tooth parts, and described the first data record comprises the information based on the first of digital dental cast (50,51,52); With

Acquisition is for the manufacture of the second data record of described physics dental cast (80,81,82), and described the second data record comprises the information based on the second portion of the described at least first that comprises described digital dental cast (50,51,52),

The first of wherein said digital dental cast uses the first scanning resolution to produce, and the second portion of described digital dental cast use the second scanning resolution generation, and described the second scanning resolution is lower than described the first scanning resolution.

11. system according to claim 10, wherein said data record generation unit (3) is suitable for:

Obtain to comprise the data record of the information that the preparation body based on described digital dental cast (50,51,52) divides for described the first data record, and

For described the second data record obtains the information that the described at least preparation body based on described digital dental cast (50,51,52) divides.

12. any one described system according to claim 10 or 11, wherein said data record generation unit (3) is suitable for the information of morphology that described the first data record and described the second data record obtain the described at least part of described digital dental cast (50,51,52).

13. system according to claim 10, wherein said data record generation unit (3) is suitable for:

By gated sweep instrument apparatus (2), obtain at least one number stamp (60,61,62) of the part of physics die (30,31,32), the first of described physics die (30,31,32) comprises the die of the part of described dental structure; With

Produce described digital dental cast (50,51,52) based on described number stamp (60,61,62).

14. system according to claim 13, wherein said data record generation unit (3) is suitable for controlling described scanner device (2), to use the first scanning resolution when scanning the first of described physics die (30,31,32), and use the second scanning resolution when the second portion of the described physics die of scanning (30,31,32), described the first scanning resolution is higher than described the second scanning resolution.

15. system according to claim 10, wherein said data record generation unit (82) is suitable at least a portion of described digital dental cast (50,51,52) is increased linkage interface.

16. system according to claim 10, wherein said data record generation unit is suitable for:

For described the first data record obtains to comprise data record based on the information of the described part of described digital dental cast (50,51,52), described part has used the first scanning resolution to produce; With

For described the second data record obtains to comprise data record based on the information of the described at least part of described digital dental cast (50,51,52), described part has used the second scanning resolution to produce, and described the second scanning resolution is lower than described the first scanning resolution.

17. system according to claim 10, described system comprises CAM equipment, and described CAM equipment is suitable for:

Receive described the first data record; With

Based on described the first described at least tooth parts of data record manufacturing.

18. system according to claim 10, described system comprises the free form manufacturing equipment, and described free form manufacturing equipment is suitable for:

Receive described the second data record; With

Based on described the second described at least physics dental cast of data record manufacturing (80,81,82).

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